This article is based on the tablet version of Clip Studio Paint.

PC users should refer to the explanation for Studio Mode.

The layout of menu commands may vary in the smartphone version.

Clip Studio Paint has many features that make coloring easier. You can choose the coloring method, from large areas to fine details and automatic coloring, based on what you plan on drawing.

 

Fill method

There are two main methods for filling a canvas.

 

Tap to fill the specified area. 

Use the Fill tool to color enclosed areas of lineart accurately.

 

Enclose and fill the area you want to color.

Use the Enclose and fill tool, to color all the enclosed areas within a selected range.

If there are several enclosed areas, you can fill them all at once.

 

When using Enclose and fill, make sure to firmly encircle the area you want to fill.

On the other hand, if an enclosed area is slightly inside the encircled area, it will not be filled in, so there is no need to avoid it completely.

 

Note: When you want to fill in the gaps between lines without going over them...

Using the Close gap function, you can color inside the line art without the color overflowing, even if there are small breaks in the lines. This is helpful when coloring a roughly drawn illustration.

 

Studio Mode

Tap to fill

From the Tool palette, select the Fill tool, and choose the appropriate sub tool according to the layer you want to fill.

 

Refer other layers: Allows you to fill based on illustrations and line art drawn on different layers.

Refer only to editing layer: Fills only the selected layer with the referenced illustration or line art.

 

Once you have selected the tool, choose a color and tap the area you want to fill.

 

Note:

Select Refer other layers, when you want to color another layer while referring to the line art layer. Please note that hidden layers will not be referenced.

 

For more details on how to use the Fill tool, please check this article.

 

Enclose and fill

Select the Enclose and fill tool from the Sub Tool palette and circle the area you want to fill.

 

For more details on Enclose and fill, please check this article.

 

Apply without going over the edges

Select the Fill tool in the Tool palette, and adjust the level by turning on Close gap in the Tool Property palette. The larger the value, the larger the gap it can accommodate.

 

For more details on how to master the Close gap function, please check this article.

 

Simple Mode

Tap to fill

Select the Fill tool from the toolbar.

Once you have selected the tool, choose a color and tap the area you want to fill.

 

You can adjust the settings of the Fill tool by tapping it again or from the tool settings displayed at the bottom.

 

Close gap: Activate it and set the value. This is also explained in the “Color without going over the edges" section below.

Tolerance: The larger the number, the wider the range recognized as the same color.

Area scaling: When activated, the area to be painted will be slightly wider.

Refer all layers: When activated, it will fill referencing the lines and fills of all layers. When deactivated, it will only refer to and fill the selected layer.

Opacity: Sets the opacity of the fill color.

Anti-aliasing: When activated, the edges of the paint will be blurred and smoothed.

 

Enclose and fill

Select the Fill tool from the toolbar. Select Enclose and fill from the tool settings displayed at the bottom, and circle the area you want to fill.

 

You can adjust the settings of the Enclose and fill tool by tapping the Fill tool again or from the tool settings displayed at the bottom.

 

Color without going over the edges

Select the Fill tool from the toolbar. Tap the Fill tool again or activate “Close gap” and set the number in the tool settings displayed at the bottom.

The larger the value, the larger the gap it can accommodate.

 

Apply a gradient

It is convenient to use a gradient when painting areas where you want to create a three-dimensional effect.

Studio Mode

First, specify the area using the Selection area tool or the Auto select tool.

You don't need a selection, if you want to fill the entire layer.

 

Select the Tool palette > Gradient tool.

After selecting the desired gradient on the Sub Tool palette, drag over the area you want to fill with the gradient.

 

For more details on how to master gradients, please refer to this article here.

 

For more information on how to create a selection area, please refer to this article.

 

Simple Mode

You cannot use the Gradient function in Simple Mode. Please switch to Studio Mode before using it.

 

Automatically add shadows to your illustration

By using Shading Assist, you can generate shading by referencing the base color layer and line art.

 

Studio Mode

 

To use Shading Assist, prepare your illustration in advance with a line art layer (1) and a color layer (2).

 

In the Layer palette, select the color layer or color layer folder to which you want to apply auto shading, and then select the Edit menu > Shading Assist.

 

For more information on how to use the Shading Assist, please check this tutorial.

 

Simple Mode

You cannot use the Shading Assist feature in Simple Mode. Please switch to Studio Mode before using it.

 

Coloring illustrations automatically

Colorize allows you to colorize line art layers fully automatically.

This is useful when you want to minimize the amount of coloring work required or when you want to consider what colors to use.

Studio Mode

For the quickest results, select a layer with line art and click Edit > Colorize > Colorize all.

A colored layer will be created separately from the line art.

 

Note: If you have an idea of ​​the color you want to paint, you can also specify a “hint color”.

 

For more information on how to use Colorize, please check this tutorial.

 

Simple Mode

You cannot use the colorize function in Simple Mode. Please switch to Studio Mode before using it.